At first we would like to thank Creative for offering us a sample of their Sound BlasterX G5 7.1 HD Audio Portable Sound Card for testing and reviewing.

 

 

 

About Creative:

 

“Creative is the worldwide leader in digital entertainment products. Founded in Singapore in 1981, Creative started with the vision that multimedia would revolutionize the way people interact with their PCs.

 

Famous for its Sound Blaster sound cards and for launching the multimedia revolution, Creative is now driving digital entertainment with cutting-edge audio solutions, premium wireless speakers, high performance earphone products and portable media devices. The company's innovative hardware, proprietary technology, applications and services enable consumers to experience high-quality digital entertainment - anytime, anywhere.

 

Since launching the phenomenally successful Sound Blaster sound cards and setting the de-facto standard for PC audio in 1989, Creative has been able to leverage on its leading-edge audio technology, a huge user base of 400 million, and strong brand name to expand into the exciting lifestyle Personal Digital Entertainment (PDE) market.

 

Creative is now well recognized as a global leader for product innovation in the audio and PDE segments, offering consumers a complete, high quality digital entertainment experience through Creative's hardware, software applications and services. Finding the perfect balance between form and function, Creative strives for every product to be a sensory feast for the eyes and ears.

 

Today, Creative is spearheading new product categories with its groundbreaking Sound BlasterAxx audio enhancement devices and solutions, highly-acclaimed Creative D5xm Signature Series of modular Bluetooth wireless speakers, Aurvana premium headsets, Sound Blaster wireless gaming headsets, and cross-platform Sound Blaster Recon3D for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC or Mac.

 

These products and solutions are marketed to consumers and system integrators through a worldwide distribution network that includes traditional marketing channels, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the Internet.

 

Moving forward, Creative's mission is to expand its leadership role in the lifestyle Personal Digital Entertainment market, using groundbreaking technology and leading-edge designs for not just the technically-savvy consumers, but for everyone who enjoys entertainment. With strong focus on user-friendly interface, multiple features and cool industrial designs, the Creative brand is synonymous with lifestyle Personal Digital Entertainment.

 

Creative's global corporate headquarters is located in Singapore, in the heart of the Asia-Pacific region. It has regional business units in the US (Milpitas, California), Europe (Dublin, Ireland) and Asia (Singapore).

 

Creative is a public listed company on the main board of the Singapore Exchange (SGX) since June 1994.”

 

Native 7.1 Surround Sound Support

 

The portable G5 supports virtual 7.1 channel audio input signals for realistic virtualization via BlasterX Acoustic Engine Pro, to deliver gaming effects and audio cues with near-perfect accuracy and positioning via your headphones!

 

Immersive 3D PC Gaming Audio

 

The G5 is a high performance external sound card with built-in SB-Axx1™ multi-core chipset for hardware accelerated audio. Even a basic motherboard stereo gets transformed into 3D virtual surround sound on your headset.

 

The G5 also supports multi-channel content, and 7.1 audio mixing for ultra-realistic surround sound into your headphones.

 

Best-in-class Console Gaming Audio

 

Built with precision audiophile components, the G5 delivers a best-in-class stereo experience for gaming consoles1 with high-resolution of 24-bit/192kHz, 120dB USB DAC hardware driven audio playback that enables you to experience your gaming audio soundtrack in amazing detail. You'll be able to detect in real time where your enemy exactly is and get the winning edge every single time!

 

BlasterX Acoustic Engine Pro

 

Optimized for your gameplay and engineered to impress you with extraordinary sound, the G5 represents our true innovation in sound, beyond the realm of physical limitations through audio enhancements.

 

Available for Windows®, the fully customizable BlasterX Acoustic Engine Pro gives you unprecedented control over your listening experience with audio realism and immersive audio effects that intelligently minimizes distractions and enhances gameplay. From the whizz of bullets near your head to the terrifying roar of a troll, every detail of your game comes alive with our professionally tweaked audio enhancements!

 

Audiophile-grade Headphone Amplifier

 

The G5 is not just a 24-bit/192kHz, 120dB USB DAC. With a Texas Instruments TPA6120A2 headphone amplifier with a low output impedance of 2.2?, the G5 is capable of driving headphones of up to 600? impedance as well as sensitive in-ear monitors in the market today.

 

This pocket-sized external gaming sound card also supports high-resolution audio playback of up to 24-bit/192kHz, thanks to its Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC, which has a Signal-to-Noise Ratio of 120dB.

 

Built-in SB-Axx1 Audio Processor

 

Dedicated SBX Profile selection button and Scout Mode™ buttons on the G5 work with the built-in SB-Axx1 multi-core processor for instant hardware accelerated audio enhancements. Get the right setting and save time with storing up to three audio profiles on the G5. All it takes is a button, along with toggle controls to switch between the profiles to suit the nature of your gameplay.

 

Backlit Volume Control with Illuminated Volume Indicator

 

The G5 is a perfect example of the fusion of form and functionality. With a volume knob that's sized for easy accessibility during gameplay, there's a crimson red backlight that provides visual aid in low-lighting conditions. And, you're ready to take on your game!

 

CONNECTIVITY

 

The G5 further expands the inputs and outputs found in today's onboard audio solutions, with the inclusion of options such as line-in and optical connections. The USB-Device port at the back of Sound BlasterX G5 offers another USB port that supplies the maximum output of 100mA, so you can plug in your gaming mouse or keyboard easily.

 

The G5 support headsets with 4-pole connection, in addition to the dedicated mic jack.

 

Audio Technology: SB-Axx1™

X-Plus: Yes

Max. Playback Quality

Playback: 24-bit / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192kHz

Max. Recording Quality

Line-in: 24bit / 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0, 176.4, 192 kHz

Mic-in:

24bit / 44.1, 48.0, 88.2, 96.0 kHz ~16kHz (Frequency Response)

Optical In:

24-bit / 44,1 / 48 / 88,2 / 96 kHz

Output: Stereo

Max. Headphone Output

High Gain 150Ω - 600Ω

Low Gain 32Ω - 150Ω

Included Accessories:

microUSB cable

Mini TOSLINK Cable

 

Key Features

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) 120dB (DAC)

Connectivity Options (Main)

microUSB

Line / Optical In: 1 x 3.5mm jack

Line / Optical Out : 1 x 3.5mm jack

4-pole Headphone-out with Mic: 1 x 3.5mm jack

Dedicated Mic In : 1 x 3.5mm jack

Scout Mode: Yes

Audio Fidelity: Up to 24-bit / 192kHz

Compatible Platform: USB 2.0, USB 3.0

Supported Gaming Consoles: PlayStation® 4, Xbox One

Additional Features

Dimension (H x W x D)110 x 74 x 22 mm (4.3" x 2.9" x 0.9")

Weight 145g (0.31lbs)

ASIO Playback & Recording

 

Right after we have reviewed the Sound Blaster ZxR flagship from the Creative Z series, we have seen that the company has concentrated more on releasing external sound cards which do have the benefit of being more portable (powered by the USB bus) and less prone to noise which occurs inside the computer chassis. One of their latest products from this segment is the Sound BlasterX G5 which is described as a virtual 7.1 24-bit/192kHz, 120dB USB DAC and headphone amplifier, compatible with PC/Mac systems but also with consoles and Android/iOS smartphones. Its tiny form factor allows it to be used with ease by users on-the-go along with their favorite headphones or with 2.0/2.1 speaker systems.

 

Unlike the external sound cards, Creative has used for this particular product a very tiny cardboard enclosure, which shows a photo of the product in operation on the front cover along with its main highlights:

 

 

 

On the back we will get to see the product features explained in multiple languages, along with the minimum system requirements, manufacturing date and the product serial numbers:

 

 

 

If we do look on the left side, Creative is showing us the box contents via a simple drawing, but also the interfaces of the back of the Sound BlasterX G5:

 

 

 

On the other laterals, other shots of the sound card will be shown:

 

 

 

 

After unsealing the cardboard box and lifting the top cover we will get to see the card sitting inside a custom plastic mold:

 

 

 

The bottom layer does contain the product bundle:

 

 

 

Speaking of the bundle, we will receive one optical cable and also one USB cable:

 

 

 

Both ends of the red USB cable feature customized connectors:

 

 

The manual introduces us to the card main interfaces and also shows how to operate the supplied software:

 

 

 

Sound BlasterX G5 does feature a plastic chassis of metallic-grey color and in the middle we will find a brushed aluminum insertion holding the product logo:

 

 

 

The frontal area of the card does hold the volume controller along with the headphone-out jack and also a Mic-In jack to be used when conferencing:

 

 

 

In the back we do have one Line/Optical In jack but also one Line/Optical Out jack, an USB-Device pass-through port along with a microUSB port:

 

 

 

On the left side, the sound card features some extra buttons, along with the Profile LEDs:

 

 

 

Scout Mode, the feature also seen with Sound Blaster ZxR is also available along with the G5, SBX button will allow to cycle between profiles and we do also have one headphone gain switch:

 

 

 

The opposite side does not come with any other extra interfaces:

 

 

 

The bottom area of the sound card is composed from a large rubber foot, which has in the middle one “Sound Blaster” printed logo:

 

 

 

Right after plugging the card inside a spare USB port, the top logo becomes alive:

 

 

 

We can say the same about the volume controller LED, which varies depending on the set value:

 

 

 

The profile selector, SBX lights up too with a white LED and we can also see the currently activated profile:

 

 

 

 

Right after the installation of the driver plus utility from the Creative website, we will be welcomed by the Sound BlasterX GUI, which is quite handy in order to have all the card features at our disposal. The Profile tab will allow us to customize each of the three slots with pre-defined settings or we can set custom values ourselves; the chosen settings can be seen in the top right corner:

 

 

 

From the Acoustic Engine area, we can enable or disable BlasterX Acoustic Engine which comprises of:

 

-Surround Effect

-Crystalizer

-Bass boost along with selection of the Crossover frequency

-Smart Volume along with additional presets

-Dialog Plus

 

If we need to disable one of the effects completely, we can surely do so by moving the switch for each feature:

 

 

The EQ can be configured on 11 bands and as we have seen with various gaming headsets, we can also select some of the pre-defined profiles:

 

 

Profiles

 

 

Scout Mode can be enabled in the next tab and gives us a tactical advantage in some games:

 

 

If we would like to have fun with our friends during conferences, we can always work with Voice FX feature:

 

 

 

Here are the predefined profiles we can work with:

 

 

 

The Advanced Settings menu does allow us to choose between speaker and headphone setups, enable Direct Mode (which disables the effects and delivers pure audio), SPDIF-Out Direct (which allows bit-to-bit streaming of up to 24-bit 96kHz PCM data signals without processing) or we can enable headphone surround for Line/Optical Out:

 

 

 

Headphones connected

 

 

Speakers Connected

 

 

The Mixer area allows us to work with all the volumes from the interfaces:

 

 

The software also allows us to work with miscellaneous settings:

 

 

Test Setup

 

CPU: Intel I5 3570K Retail @ 4.7GHz

CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14

Motherboard: ASRock Z77 OC

RAM: GeIL Black Dragon 2x4GB DDR2133 (@1600)

Video: Gigabyte GTX 780 WF OC

Power Supply: Cooler Master 850W

SSD: OCZ Vertex 3 240GB

Case: Cooler Master ATCS 840

 

In order to test the card performances, we have used RightMark Audio Analyzer and setup loopback between the front output of the card and the back input of the Sound BlasterX G5.

 

Remember! These results are not to be taken as reference because each computer system configuration can produce different noise levels, so you may obtain lower or higher performance results than the ones listed here.

 

16-bit, 44kHz

X-Fi Titanium HD

Creative Sound Blaster ZxR

Creative Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1

Creative Sound BlasterX G5 7.1

 

16-bit, 48kHz

X-Fi Titanium

Creative Sound Blaster ZxR

Creative Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1

Creative Sound BlasterX G5 7.1

 

24-bit, 48kHz

X-Fi Titanium HD

Creative Sound Blaster ZxR

Creative Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1

Creative Sound BlasterX G5 7.1

 

24-bit, 96kHz

X-Fi Titanium HD

Creative Sound Blaster ZxR

Creative Sound Blaster Omni Surround 5.1

Creative Sound BlasterX G5 7.1

 

The Sound BlasterX G5 was recognized right away after we have installed the supplied drivers and besides a change of menu positioning versus the ZxR, we have felt right at home, recognizing the effects we have seen before: Surround, Crystalizer, Bass, Smart Volume, Dialog Plus and so on. The ability to choose between three different profile slots adds a bit of flexibility, along with the Scout Mode button right on the hardware itself instead of setting a hot key on our keyboard. Instead of opening up the console each and every time we switch between headphones with different impedances, we can now use the simple button on the sound card just to do that.

 

In order to check out the card performances, we have used the Rightmark Audio Analyzer utility (with all effects disabled, in order to get accurate results) which tells an interesting story! The included Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC along with the Texas Instruments TPA6120A2 headphone amplifier are a very good combination since this new model passes over the Omni 5.1 with flying colors and we can say that it positions itself safely near the internal variants: Titanium HD and Sound Blaster ZxR. This is quite a great deal considering that it is not taking any more extra space inside our computer (some ITX builds do not allow installation of a dedicated sound card) and can be also switched back and forth between consoles, PCs/Laptops but also Macs.

 

The card was also tested while watching TV Shows, movies but also while gaming and performing Skype conferences; our experience was no different versus a high-end sound card while using our trusty SteelSeries Elite Prism but also the SteelSeries flagship, Siberia 800.

 

The Sound BlasterX G5 sound card can be found online for about 150 Euros and if you guys pair it with some decent headphones you will surely get a nice experience while in games but also while watching multimedia content!

 

Creative Sound BlasterX G5 7.1 HD Audio Portable Sound Card is Recommended For:

 

 

We would like to thank again to Creative for making this review possible!